Diversity

Welcome to my first Substack post! Noizeletter subscribers, this is where both my monthly Noizeletter and other commentary posts I make — cultural, intellectual, political, creative and musical — will appear from now on. My daughter Sidney, who is 300% smarterer* and 3,000% youngerer** than I am, moved me from our MailChimp email list to Substack. She felt this platform — more than social media or email — is where people seeking depth and willing to invest time on their mind and growth instead of their dopamine hits gather. That is how — and you are who — I want to spend my time connecting with moving forward.

We will all meet this moment in a culture and world flirting more than ever in my lifetime with anti-intellectualism and authoritarianism in our own way; after much reflection, I’m convinced that the way I want to meet this moment is through deeper and more honest connections with fellow dreamers who understand the significance of everything we say and do right now. You are the brave people who will be changemakers and disruptors to the current dangerous tides; the people who will inspire others to keep our world meaningful, empathetic, and kind.*** I am far less interested in reaching a larger, more casual audience as an artist, writer and human than I used to be; and I’m at a fortunate stage of my career where I don’t need more fans and venues. I just need you. If you’re a small group, great; a large group, greater.

So I’m thrilled to kick off the new year and this new platform with…

LONE TREE, CO (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Jan. 19, 2026) — Kids! Parents! Teachers! It’s time to celebrate the love for diverse people and ideas that Martin Luther King, Jr. represented with the colorful collaboration DIVERSITY from three beloved national family artists across the country — the Alphabet Rockers from the West Coast (Oakland, CA); Doctor Noize from the Midwest Mountains (Lone Tree, CO); and Vivian Fang Liu from the East Coast (New York, NY) — in a video directed by Sidney Cullinan.

“This song will remind you exactly why you continue to quest to understand another person’s lived experience, and why you want to include your children in a journey of empathy and community building. This is fundamental to all of us surviving this time in our national history.”
— Kaitlin McGaw of Alphabet Rockers

Fueled by our shared passion for and support of diversity of all kinds, and focusing our mutual love of collaboration toward high purpose and production values, as artists we felt it was important to join together and kick off this calendar year with a joyous celebration of something our culture sometimes forgets in these times: diversity is what makes all of us smarter and stronger. Let’s say it out loud and proud. Heck, let’s even sing it.****

“This song gives me deep roller skating through your neighborhood on a sunny day waving at the folks as you roll by vibes. We can all use a lil bit of that in our lives right about now.”
— Tommy Soulati Shepherd of Alphabet Rockers

Diversity was, indeed, lovingly created by the three collaborating artists as a homage to the vintage song and video style of every kid’s favorite neighborhood: Sesame Street. Each artist has our own verse, in our own musical style and genre,***** taking listeners on a journey musically that literally embodies what the song is about. Following a bridge of multicultural instrumentation, the final section, joyously sung by all, is a hybrid rocking musical jam fusing all the previous styles into a delicious melting pot of music and harmony. And Sidney Cullinan’s video, fusing live action and animation of colorful characters into a timeless and simple message, is expertly crafted to show that the synchronicity and synthesis of diverse elements creates a greater whole.

“It’s time — past time — for artists and educators everywhere to speak up and represent their values out loud, regardless of the career consequences. I’m deeply inspired to be collaborating with artists of such creativity, courage and character on this song. But most of all… it was fun.”
— Doctor Noize

Grammy®- and Emmy-winning duo Alphabet Rockers are one of the most influential family music acts of our time who lead with love. As chart-topping recording artist and award-winning teacher Doctor Noize, I have known and admired the Alphabet Rockers for almost two decades. I co-produced virtuosic singer and pianist Vivian Fang Liu’s acclaimed 2023 album Accents Of Love. Sidney Cullinan has directed multiple videos by Grammy winners and designed the most successful social media campaign in the history of The Nature Conservancy.

“We can’t just hope for a better world — we have to be BRAVE, TAKE ACTION, and SING it into being. Working with Kaitlin, Tommy, Doctor Noize, and Sidney feels like joining a big family of positive fighters. That’s the heart of Diversity: warm, hopeful, joyful, and moving forward TOGETHER.”
— Vivian Fang Liu

All the artists involved recognize this song celebrates a word that’s being removed from artists’, educators’ and venues’ websites and curricula everywhere. That’s one of the reasons we feel it’s important to reclaim the natural positivity and joy of the word, its meaning, and its value today — from cultural diversity to biodiversity — on a national holiday that speaks to it. We hope Dr. King would be proud. And because we’re all teaching artists who love and feel a commitment to parents, educators and the classroom, Diversity is being released with a music video expanding on the song’s concepts for students, teachers, and curiosity seekers everywhere.

“When I was growing up, the topic of this song was the subject of half the things I watched on Sesame Street. I don’t find this subject controversial at all.”
— Director Sidney Cullinan

So join the Alphabet Rockers, me, Vivian Fang Liu and Sidney Cullinan to celebrate the color and collaboration we can all bring to this world… together. Share it with friends and family. Diversity is now available at all major digital retailers and YouTube. For all ages, and especially suitable for preschool and elementary school children and the adults who belong to them. The musical artists and director are available for interviews individually or together, but be warned: If it’s a group interview, it’s gonna be a party.******

Running time: 4 minutes 1 second

For PR and interview inquiries, contact Kershona Mayo at the MORA / MAY Music PR Agency. For more information on this song and the artists, visit…

www.alphabetrockers.com
www.doctornoize.com
www.vivianfangliu.com
www.sidneycullinanfilm.weebly.com

*Totally a word.
**Totally an exaggeration. It’s only 2,000%.
***In short, you’re woke wosers.
****I totally said “Heck” instead of somethin’ else ‘cause this is an all-ages release. Golly!
*****My genre is “bad music.”
******And let’s be honest: Not trying to show off, but I look hot in pink.